How many people take PC Flight Simulators too seriously?
Well, I'm a member of British Airways Virtual, a controller with VATSIM, also an online pilot with VATSIM, own three flight sims (X-Plane, Fly!, MSFS2002) but the only thing I take seriously in a sim is enjoyment!
I have flew flight sims for the last 1 year, got connected to VATSIM immedately after getting my own internet connection installed (yep, age 16 and paying a phone bill
) and I would say that I have learned a little knowledge - not enough to take up a real position in Tower or in an aircraft - but the enjoyment from flying the sims has increased.
Although indeed, there are real pilots and ATCO's who are members of the ATC group (one of the two groups that exist) and yet I do not think they take it seriously either.
You cannot say why do you do the real flight during the day, then having some quite fun on a Sunday you take the virtual flight - is it not boring doing the same thing twice ? Well, no ! Of course, taking the real flight and the virtual flight is two different things.
Same for ATCO's. "Why do you want to control virtually when you have did it for real during the day ?" - An answer could be, again, "For fun".